H. W. Barker

Henry W. Barker (March 18, 1860 – February 24, 1950)^[1][2] was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate.

H. W. Barker
Member of the Wisconsin State Senate
In office 1907–1909
Constituency	District 31
Personal details
Born	Henry W. Barker (1860-03-18)March 18, 1860 Leon, Monroe County, Wisconsin
Died	February 24, 1950(1950-02-24) (aged 89) Sparta, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Frances Mary McMahan ​ ​ (m. 1884; died 1933)​
Children	Harold H. Barker
Occupation	Druggist, politician

Biography

Barker was born in Leon, Monroe County, Wisconsin,^[3] and attended West Salem High School.^[2] After completing high school, he "went to Minnesota 'to visit' and stayed 22 years".^[2] He worked in the drug business for 15 years while living in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and owned H. W. Barker Medical Company in Sparta, Wisconsin.^[1] On May 9, 1893 he was awarded a patent for a drug mixer which he claimed could also be used to pop corn or roast coffee.^[4][5]

Career

Barker was a member of the Senate from 1907 to 1909.^[6] Previously, he had served three terms as Mayor of Elbow Lake. He was a Republican. In the Senate, he became chair of the health and sanitation committee, where he successfully pushed for passage of a "long sheet" law "requiring hotels to use sheets nine feet in length to cover the mattresses and comforters".^[2]

Personal life

Barker married Frances Mary McMahan in 1884; she died in 1933. Barker died at the home of one of his two daughters, in Sparta, at the age of 89.^[2] Barker's son Harold H. Barker served in the Minnesota legislature.^[2]

H. W. Barker died at his daughter's home in Sparta on February 24, 1950.^[2]